Photomechanical machine



Oct. 30, 1934-. H. c. JONES PHOTOMECHANIGAL MACHINE Filed March 15, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet l gnbemtoz @yfi Gite anew V r E 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. C. JONES PHOTOMEGHANICAL MACHINE Flled March 13 1926 anoenboz 2414 MW 42,? YM' Oct. 30, 1934. a c JONES 1,978,462

PHOTOMECHANICAL MACHINE Filed March 15, 1926 3 5heets-Sheei 5 Smumtm 55 at 1;, CW w tome Patented Oct. 30, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 18 Claims.

This invention relates to photo-mechanical ma chines for reproducing a design from a photographic plate onto a sensitized surface, and more particularly to a machine for repeating and/or properly spacing a design to be reproduced from,

a photographic plate onto a sensitized surface.

In the present form of the invention a machine of the form of a photo-composing machine is shown.

An object of the invention is to produce a simple, efficient and accurate machine of the character described, which may be easily operated by a comparatively unskilled operator for rapidly and reliably reproducing a design from a photographic plate onto a sensitized surface.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invent'on.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig! 1 is a front elevation of the machine,

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine,

Fig. 3 is a. face elevation of one of the indicating devices, and

Fig. 4 is a section taken at 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, a supporting frame for the machine is formed by the base member 1, uprights 2 and 3 and the cross member 4, which are secured together to form a rigid supporting frame. The member 3 is provided with dovetailed grooves such as 5 formed adjacent the sides thereof. A-member 6 is provided having rearwardly extending portions slidably seated in the grooves 5, and the member 6 is adapted to be moved vertically with respect to the upright 3. A supporting arm 7 is rigidly bolted to the member 6 extending at a right angle thereto across the front of the uprights 2 and 3. The upright 2 is provided with engaging slot 8 in which is slidably seated an engaging portion 9 secured to the outer end of arm 7. It will therefore be seen that the arm 7 may be moved up and down on the uprights 2 and 3. The arm 7 and member 6 are counterbalanced by reason of an eye 66, set in the top of the slidable member 6 and provided with a cable 67, trained over pulleys 68 on top of the main uprights 2-3 and attached to a weight, not shown, movable adjacent ,the up right, 2. A screw block 10 (Fig. 2) extends through a vertical slot in the upright 3 and is securely fastened to the arm 7. This screw block is interiorly threaded for engagement with the jackscrew 11, which is supported in bearings on the frame. A spur gear 12 is attached to the lower end of the jackscrew and is in cooperating driven engagement with the spur gear 13 carried on the lower end of the vertical shaft 14, which is supported in bearings carried by the frame. A bevel gear 15 is also attached to the shaft 14 and is in mesh with the bevel gear 16, which is connected by a stub shaft to the spur gear 17, this shaft being supported by bearings carried by the frame. Spur gear 17 is in mesh with a pinion gear 18, attached to the driving shaft of the motor 19. The motor 19 represents suitable motive means for operating the connected mechanism in a manner to be further described. It will therefore be seen that when the motor 19 is operated, the jackscrew 11 will be rotated, through the gearing above enumerated, to thereby move the block 10 and the connected arm '7 in a vertical direction.

The arm 7 is provided along its upper side with a dove-tailed guideway 20 within which is slidably disposed a cooperating guide member formed on a carriage 21 which is movable longitudinally of the arm and on which is supported for movement transversely of the arm a holder 22 used to support a negative plate, not shown. With the carriage 21 there is associated a valveactuating handle 55', by which may be controlled suitable well-known vacuum means employed in the art for obtaining pressure contact between the printproducing and the print-receiving elements. I A screw threaded shaft 23 is mounted along the upper part of the arm 7, movable vertically therewith, and is in threaded engagement with an appropriate part of the carriage 21 thereby furnishing means for moving the carriage and frame 22 carried thereby'when the shaft 23 is rotated.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 the outer end of the screw shaft 23 carries a spur gear 24-secured thereto and in mesh with a pinion gear 25 mounted on the stud shaft 26 supported in a frame attached to the arm 7. A bevel gear 27 is also secured to the stub shaft 26 and is in driving engagement with a bevel gear (Fig. 2) 28, slidably mounted on shaft 29 by means of a driving 155 spline so that the vertical position of the gear 28 may be varied. The gear 28 is attached to and car ed with the arm 7, so that as the arm 7 is re. .d and lowered, the gear 27 will remain in mesh with the gear 28. The lower end of the 105 vertical shaft 29 is connected at its lower end to a driving motor 30, which, by reason of the foregoing gear train interposed between that shaft and the screw shaft 23, serves to move the holdor 22 horizontally along the arm 7, it being understood that the motor, when deenergized, may be turned in either direction by the hand wheel 52 through said gear train and said vertical shaft.

It will therefore be seen that through the mechanism above described, the holder 22 is movable horizontally and vertically in a substantially vertical plane extending lengthwise of the supporting frame. Means will now be described for directly indicating not only the movement of the holder 22 in a vertical and horizontal direction, but also for designating the position of the holder withrespect to both the vertical and horizontal directions.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, a pinion 31 is keyed to the outer end of the shaft 23 and is in mesh with the reduction gear 32, which in turn is in mesh with the pinion 33, rigidly secured to the bevel gear 34, both of which are mounted on a common shaft, the gears 32, 33 and 34 being carried by portions of a supporting frame rigidly secured to the arm 7.. Bevel gear 34 is in driving mesh with a cooperating bevel gear 35 (Fig. 3), secured to the driving shaft of the indicator 36. The indicator 36 which is of the ordinary, well known commercial type, comprises indicating dials 37, 38, 39 and 40 which are provided with a gear train to directly connect them to the gear 35. The entire gear train connecting the dials 37, 38, 39 and 40 to the screw shaft 23 and thence to the movable holder 22 is such that the indicator 36 will directly indicate the movementof the holder 22 in inches and fractions thereof. While in the present embodiment, this unit is chosen as one inch, it is obvious that the unit may be changed as desired by suitable changes in the gear train. The dials 3'7, 38 and 39 each carry a plurality of numerals representing a complete series of digits 0 to 9, inclusive, and the dial 40 is divided into eight places, graduated respectively The digits on dial 37 represent tens of units of movement, the digits on dial 38 represent units of movement, the digits on dial 39' represent tenths of units of movement, and the'digits on dial 40 represent eighths of tenths of units of movement or eightieths of units of movement. It will therefore be seen that in reading the indicator 36, the decimal should be placed between the dials 38 and 39. It will also be seen that the 'dials are in such alignment and so arranged that the complete reading of the indicator will be designated in decimal notation corresponding to the movement of the holder '22. In the present position of the indicator 36, the dial reads 03.3%, which is equivalent to 3.3125" or 31: 5.

In addition to the advantages of being able to read the movement of the holder 22 directly from the indicator 36, since the indicator is directly connected, the readings thereon will designate not only the single movement of the holder 22, but the algebraic sum total of the movement or movements of the holder 22; and therefore the operator will be able to prepare a suitable table showing the various readings necestions of movement. As explained above, the dial 1 40 represents 1/80 units of movement. This is the least multiplicand which when multiplied by a whole number or numbers will give a product in decimal fractions of movement, or vulgar fractions of movement in increments of sixteenths, according to the whole number by which it is multiplied. For instance, if a movement is desired which would result in 3 the indicator would read 03.0% designating 5 l/80= 5/80= If, on the other hand, decimal fractional reading is desired, the dial 40 repre sents increments of movement equal to .0125, and this in combination with the tenths dial, will give practically any decimal reading desired. In addition to the indicator means, there is provided other means associated therewith, which may be used in connection with the indicator means to great advantage, as will be later understood.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, a dial plate 41 is secured to the forward end of the screw shaft 23 and carries at its outer periphery a scale 41a graduated into 100 equal divisions and marked with numerals designating multiples of 5. I This dial rotates with the screw shaft 23, one complete revolution of which is equivalent to unit of movement which is equivalent to one tenth inch of horizontal travel of holder, so that each division on the dial scale 41a. represents 1/100 of 1 6 or .001 unit of movement of the holder 22. The plate 41 is provided with an engaging portion 42 which carries two concentric rows of engagement recesses designated as 43 and 44 respectively. The outer series of recesses 43 is 100 in number and corresponds to the number of graduations on the scale 41a. The number of recesses 44 is eight and therefore corresponds to 12 scale graduations on the scale 41a, or of a revolution of the plate 41, which is equal to 1/80" of movement of the holder 22. An index pointer 45 is carried by a part of the supporting frame attached to the arm '7 and. is relatively stationary with respect to the dial plate 41 and dial scale 410.. A detent 46' (Fig. 4) carried on the end of spindle 47 and seated in a bearing 48 rigidly secured to the arm '7 is provided with a handle 49, whereby the detent 46 may be moved into and out of engagement with one of the recesses 43. A similar detent 50 (Fig. 3) is carried adjacent the upper part of the dial plate 41 and is provided with a handle 51, by which it may be moved into engagement with one of the recesses 44. A manual control wheel 52 is secured to the face of the plate 41, thereby attaching it to the screw shaft 23, and providing manual means for rotating the shaft 23 to move the holder 22 in a horizontal direction. A device 53 is provided for controlling the operation of the motor 30 (Fig. 2) and comprises switches F, S and R adapted respectively to cause the motor to run in a forward direction, to deenergize the motor and to reverse the motor.

When it is desired to move the holder 22 in a horizontal direction to a position indicated by the reading on the indicator, the switch F on the control 53 (Fig. 2) is operated, thereby starting the motor and causing the frame 22 to be moved. When the indicator 36 reads 03.30, the switch S of the control 53 is operated to stop the motor, the handle 51 (Fig. 3) is pushed toward the plate 41 and held in this position with one hand, while with the other hand the handle 52 is rotated in a clockwise direction. When the plate 41 has been moved. the remaining A; revolution (1/80 of movement of the holder 22 resulting therefrom), the detent will engage the corresponding recess in the series 44, thereby indicating the proper position at which the indicator 36 will read as indicated, and the scale 41a will read 12 as shown at which time the indicator will read as shown in Fig. 3.

If a decimal setting is desired of, say 2.326", the holder 22 is moved by the motive means similar to the manner above described until the indicator 36 reads 02.30, at which time the motive means is made inoperative in a manner above described; and the manual control Wheel 52 is rotated until the reading on the dial 41a is 26, at which time the handle 49 (Fig. 4) is moved toward the plate 41, thereby seating the detent 46 in the cooperating hole of the series 43.

Referring to Fig. 1, 54 represents a base plate or table adapted to carry a sensitized surface indicated in outline as 55. The base plate 54 is so mounted on the supporting frame of the machine that it may be moved to a horizontal position, so that the sensitized surface 55 may be attached and properly positioned, and after the sensitized surface is placed thereon, the base plate 54 may be moved back to the vertical position shown in Fig. 1, so that images may be printed thereon from a photographic plate carried on the holder 22 in a manner which will be well understood by those skilled in the art.

An indicator means and a dial plate indicat'ng means are provided for indicating the vertical movement and position of the holder 22 and are similar in construction'and operation to the indicator 36 and dial indicating means above described in connection with the horizontal movement of the holder'22. Referring to Fig. 2, the

principal elements of this combined mechanism are designated by prime numbers corresponding respectively to similar parts of the comb'ned mechanism associated with the horizontal movement of the holder 22. This combined indicating mechanism is driven from the shaft 14 by means of the bevel gear 28' which drives the indicator 36 and the dial plate 41' through suitable mechanism (not shown) in a manner similar to that described in connection with the indicating mechanism associated with the holder 22. Control means for the motor 19 is indicated in the draw,- ings as 53 and is provided with three switches designated respectively as S, Fand R, and adapted to control the motor 19 in a manner similar to that above described in connection with the motor 30.

It will therefore be seen that the vertical and horizontal movement of the holder '22 as well as the position in vertical and horizontal direc-' tions will be indicated by the two indicating mechan'sms shown in Fig.2; the dial construction of both of these mechanisms being fully shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Unitary devices 36-36' are provided, each comprising associated parts operatively connected and having a plurality of dials 3'7 to 40 inclusive each bearing indicat'ng symbols, such as numerals, representing a series of digits, and each of said series representing digits of varying degree in the decimal scale, the dials being so arranged that when they are moved, the symbols thereon will be in substantial alignment and will designate by direct reading the decimal notation indicating the movement and position of the holder 22.

In order that a clear understanding may be had of some of the advantages of the invention, an example will be given by way of illustration, presenting one method in which the apparatus Vertical indicator readings Horizontal indicator readings And this tabulation is attached above the indicating means on the machine to be referred to by the operator. It will be obvious that such a table is not necessary where whole numbers or simple movements are desired, but will greatly expedite the operation of the machine, particularly where the movements are in fractions or are not in uniform steps.

.The holder 22 carrying the plate, on which the image to be printed from upon the sensitized surface appears, is moved to the upper left-hand corner of the sensitized surface 55 in the 0 position. In this position the horizontal position indicator 36 reads 0, and the vertical position in dicator 36 reads 2. The motor 30 is now operated by the means and in the manner hereinbefore described, and the movement of the holder 22 controlled until the indicator 36 reads 3, at which point the holder 22 is in the exact position to make the first exposure on to the sensitized surface 55. The exposure is now made printing the image on to the sensitized surface 55, and the mechanism is again operated until the indicator 36 reads 6, at which position the holder 22 is brought to rest with the image in the exact printing position desired, andth'e second exposure made. The holder 22 is similarly moved in the same direction until the indicator 36 reads 9, at which position the third print is made completing the upper row. The motor 19 and associated mechanism is now operated until the indicator 36 reads 4, at which time the holder 22 is brought into the exact registration position designated on table A by the second numeral 9 in the vertical row at the right. After this exposure has been made, the motor 30, and associated mechanism is operated to move the holder 22 horizontally until the indicator'36 reads 6, at which time the image to be printed is in proper registration in the position represented on the table A by the second numeral 6, at which position an exposure is made. In this manner, it is successively moved to the left until the second 1 row of exposures has been made, and then down and to the right into successive printing positions until the third horizontal row of exposures has been made. It will be seen from the above example that not only is the movement-of the holder indicated, but also its respective position shown at any instant, both in a horizontal and in a vertical direction. As explained above, in connection with the indicating mechanism,the indicators 36 and 36' indicate the algebraic sum total of the movements or movement of the frame from its 0 position.

Instead of using a separate dial plate to carry the detent stop holes, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, after understanding the invention, that these detent means may be carried by one of the dials of the carrying holder movement and position indicator which may be enlarged, if desired, in order to provide suflicient space for the detent means desired.

It will be obvious that the invention possesses many advantages over the very complicated mechanism heretofore employed in connection with apparatus of this character. A comparatively unskilled operator will have no difliculty in operating apparatus of this character embodying the invention, when printing even the most complicated designs; and the various steps for composite prints may involve movements including either decimal 0r vulgar fractional movements. I

Having thus described my invention particularly with reference to its preferred form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, after understanding my invention, that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and I aim in the appended claims to cover such changes and modifications as are within the scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination in a photo-composing machine having a base, two upright members and a connecting cross member, of 'an arm slidably attached to the upright members of said frame, said arm being counterbalanced, a jackscrew to oper-' ate said arm into different horizontal planes, bearings attached to said frame to support the jackscrew, a screw threaded block fixed on said arm to engage the jackscrew, means integral with the uprights to rigidly guide said arm, 'a work holder operable horizontally of said arm, motive means to operate said arm, means to operate the holder, visual indexes on each of said operating means, and counting indicators to indicate the position of each operating means.

2. The combination in a photo-composing ma chine having a frame comprising a base, vertical members and a cross beam therebetween remote from said base, of an arm slidably attached to one of said members and extending to contact the other member, means to move said arm into different horizontal planes, a holder horizontally slidable on said arm, to photo-mechanically reproduce designs on separate objects, means to operate said holder parallel with said arm, an indicator to indicate each movement of said holder, means to read such indications in both decimal and vulgar fractions of an inch, and means to lock the arm and holder when in adjusted position.

3. In a photo-composing machine, the combination with a pair of spaced uprights, a horizontal arm slidably guided to move up and down on said uprights, and a holder slidable lengthwise said arm, of selective means to actuate said arm and holder, said means being independently operable, each including an index, and a counting indicator having dials reading in units, tenths of units and eighths of tenths of units of travel movement.

4. In a photo-composing machine having two slides movable in planes at a right angle, respectively horizontal and vertical, a control head for the horizontally movable slide carried by the vertically movable slide, a driven gear train in said head to actuate the horizontal slide, a dial index, and a counting indicator driven by said train, said index reading in thousandths of an inch and said indicator in inches, tenths of an inch and eighths of tenths of an inch of slide travel.

5. In a photo-composing machine having a Vertically movable slide, a horizontally movable slide thereon, each slide having means for producing movement in either direction, said means including a screw one full exact turn of which causes its corresponding slide to' move one tenth of an inch, a dial index on said screw having one hundred graduations, means for locking said index at each graduation, said means including a row of perforations and plunger detent selectively engageable therein, a second row of eight perforations, a second plunger selectively engageable in the second row, a gear train driven by said shaft, and a counting indicator actuated by said gear train, said indicator wheels being readable in inches, tenths and eightieths of an inch respectively.

6. In a photo-composing machine having a vertically movable slide, a horizontally movable slide thereon, each slide having independent means for producing movement in either direction, said means including a screw having ten threads per inch, a dial on said screw having two circular rows of openings, respectively eight and one hundred, a detent for each row, said dial having indexes corresponding to the openings and a pointer therefor, a gear train driven by said screw, and a counting indicator actuated by said gear train, said indicator having a series of number wheels, one being divided into eighths and the others into tenths whereby the distance of travel imparted to the slide may be read in fractions of an inch.

7. In a photo-composing machine having a vertically movable slide, a horizontally movable slide thereon, each slide having manual and mechanical means for producing movement in either direction, said means including a screw having ten threads per inch, a dial on said screw having two circular rows of openings, respectively eight and one hundred, a detent for each row, said dial having indexes corresponding to the openings and a pointer therefor, a gear train driven by said screw, and an indicator actuated 'by said gear train, said indicator reading partially in decimal and partially in common fractions whereby accurate resetting may be accomplished.

8. In a machine having a vertically movable slide, a horizontally movable slide thereon, each slide having selective means for producing reciprocative movement, and calibrating means, combined with the movement producing means, said calibrating means including a screw, a dial thereon, said dial having two series of stops and graduations reading in decimals and an indicating device provided with counting wheels certain of which bear tenths and others common fractions of tenths.

9. In combination with a framehaving vertically movable means including an arm mounted thereon, said arm having bearings, a horizontally movable carriage, a shaft rotatably mounted in said bearings and cooperating with said carriage for moving the latter as aforesaid, means for revolving said shaft, a pointer, a dial carried by said shaft and cooperating with said pointer to indicate rotation of said shaft, another revolvable shaft mounted in said bearings, gearing connecttioned shaft and operable thereby for indicating the revolutions of the first mentioned shaft so as to indicate the carriage position.

10. In a machine having a carriage, a screw operatively engaged with said carriage to impart movement, a dial on said screw, a series of front graduations and rear recesses in said dial, and a plunger detent selectively engageable in the said recesses.

11. In a machine having a carriage, in combination a screw operatively engaged with said carriage to impart movement to the latter, a gear train actuated by rotation of-said screw, an indicator driven by said gear train, and a series of counter wheels in said indicator, said wheels indicating respectively tens of revolutions and eighths of tenths revolution of said shaft,

, 12. In a machine having a carriage, in combination, a screw with ten threads to an inch to move said carriage, a dial on said screw having two series of indexes, one of one hundred equal divisions and the other eight divisions, and a counting device connected with said screw and having indicia for showing the number of revolutions of said screw in whole numbers and declmals.

13. In combination with a drive shaft, an indicator including a revolvable shaft, a stationary pointer, means operatively connecting said shafts, a plate rigid with said drive shaft and having graduations on its periphery, manipulable means whereby to operate said drive shaft, and number wheels actuated by the shaft of said indicator to indicate the reading of said pointer and said graduations during manipulation of said means.

14. In combination with a drive shaft, an indicator including a revolvable shaft, a stationary pointer, gearing operatively connecting said shafts, a dial rigid with said drive shaft for cooperating with said pointer, means for operating said drive shaft, and means carried by the shaft of said indicator for indicating the reading of said dial and said pointer, during operation of said drive shaft.

15. In combination, a drive shaft, a counter including a revolvable shaft, a pointer, gearing connecting said shafts, a disc carried by said drive and having a front scale for cooperating with said pointer, said disc having therein rear recesses, manipulable means rigid with said disc whereby to operate the drive shaft,number wheels carried by said revolvable shaft for indicating the readings of said scale and said pointer, and rearwardly positioned manipulable means for selectively engaging in said recesses, whereby to control the movement of said drive shaft.

16. The combination of a revolvable shaft hav ing a disc thereon, a front scale on said disc, said disc having recesses in its rear surface, a pointer to cooperate with said scale, and means for controlling the revolution of said shaft, said means including a spindle which may selectively engage in said recesses.

1'7. In combination, a drive shaft, an indicator having a series of number wheels, a gear train connecting said shaft and indicator, a dial plate fixed on said shaft having graduations on its periphery, a stationary pointer for said graduations, a thickened rim on said dial having two series of recesses one of which corresponds to said graduations, one hundred in number and the other,

inner series of recesses eight in number, separate detents for each series of recesses, and manual means for turning said shaft in either direction, the angular distance turned being readable on said indicator in fractions of an inch;

18. In combination, a drive shaft, and a slide actuated thereby, a hand wheel to rotate said shaft in either direction, a dial plate fixed on said shaft having one hundred graduations, a stationary pointer for said graduations, a thickened rim on said plate having a row of one hundred recesses in its rear side and a second row of eight recesses concentrically within the'first row, a detent plunger for each row of recesses, a gear train drawn by said shaft, and a register having number wheels corresponding to the movement of said dial plate.

HARRY C. JONES. 

